The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-27

victor. gloried In TINS existence because
/ loved Ii, and because il was the accom-
phshment of that ambition which the sense
of my own greatness could not deteriorate.
/ might have fabulously enriched myself in
brief time, but to wealth was utterly In
different. l cared for nothing, in fact, but
the practice of my profession, which daily
became more fascinating as IL daily in
creased my reputation.
Arriving mt my lodgings one dark and
stormy night just as the clock tolled the
hour of twelve, threw myself upon the
bed, exhausted, both in mind and body,
from hours of professional labor, and anx-
ious for repose. This, however, was de-
MED me. furious peal of the door-bell
startled me to my feet, and learning from
the messenger at the door where my pres
ence was required, again sailed forth in
to the darkness. and now toward one OF the
most aristocratic mansions in the city. Ar
irving, l found its inmates hurrying to and
fro with pale faces and tears of distress;
and, sternly repelling all efforts on their
part to inform me of the character Of the
malady, demanded TO see the patient.
They led me to her chamber, gorgeous
in its luxurious appointments, and there,
upon q couch of snowy Wilderness, lay a
young girl, beautiful as my most perfect
conceptions of beauty, but pulseless and.
apparently, lifeless. For once, while l
gazed upon the bewildering picture of her
loveliness, forgot my nature and my duty,
in the imagination that / saw match
would awaken and smile upon me
while l looked. Could | express all
the emotions that swept, hurricane-like,
through my d zzying brain, during that
moment, / should not need TO Justify my
self for my after conduct nor do l think
that any person who perfectly comprehends
what L have thus far written, and can
imagine me as l stood by that bedside, lost
for the moment to my one idea, and
awakened for the first time in my life to an
overpowering consciousness of beauty-no
such person, say, can censure me very
deeply for what afterward happened.
l demanded an interview with the father
of my patient. He came, and / recognized
him as one whom had often heard of-an
opulent, sordid old man, loving only his
gold and this young girl, the only other liv-
ing member of his family. But he was
very pale now, and deeply agitated, and he
spoke with wild and hurled earnestness.
Save her, Doctor" he implored, "and
everything 1 own is yours. Here are
other physicians, consult them, and"
Il want no consultation with them" l
interrupted, turning upon them as con-
temptuous glance as they had once be-
slowed on me.
"Now listen to me, old man, and do not
interrupt me, for time is precious. Here
is no ordinary disease; these gentlemen
will tell you that they never before encoun-
tered symptoms like these"
They have told me sol" the frantic
father exclaimed.
swell, it puzzles them; they are power
OF I'll 80 in,
deed, a dark, mysterious, and terrible NAL
ady, and he who would cope with it must
be person of no ordinary skill.
But you have that skill and knowledge;
you can save her"
Eyes; and / alone in all this great city,"
replied exultingly. And l will save her,
although the strife must be long and a
weary one; 1 will restore her to life upon
one condition only"
Name it, then. quickly. You wish
reward? will give you gold"
"Peace, sir; l want none of your gold. l
wish a reward, it is true, and that reward is
herself"
The father started back in angry amaze
ment, and babe me explain my meaning.
l did SO, clearly and distinctly, making him
comprehend that only upon the promise of
the hand of his daughter in marriage would
l undertake her cure.
"And who are you?" he contemptuously
asked, forgetting for the moment his anx-
iety. Who are your parents? what is your
rank? and where is your wealth? Who are
you who seek TO force an alliance upon the
proudest and wealthiest family of F-p
Il am the mau, and the only man.
was my deliberate answer, who can re-
claim your daughter from the destroyer!
Look at her; he has already seized upon
her, ard in me is your only hope. You can
not comprehend the passion which entered
into my heart from the first instant that my
eyes rested on her; and l have only
to say that, rather than lose her for myself
such is my desperation that | would see
her perish! Now, decide quickly
Our conversation had, of course, been
unheard by the other physicians present,
who had withdrawn to the further end of
the chamber upon my entrance. The old
man clasped his hands and looked toward
them with an expression of mute despair
upon his hard, avaricious face; they merely
shook their heads and looked toward me.
"Five minutes hence it may be too late!"
l said in an UNDERGONE.
He started, gave a groan of pain, and
pain. and then whispered:
Save her, then, strange, Incompetent
sible being-save her at any sacrifice! Yet
| know not that can control her affections
for you, when she recovers-"
Il do not ask it of you, was my Interrupt
ton. 81 will save her and risk the event,
provided you will promise to place no
restraint whatever upon her will"
He nodded affirmatively, for he could
not speak.
Selecting one of the attendant physicians
to assist me, peremptorily compelled all
others to leave the room, and thus secured
from interruption l bent every nerve to the
mighty wrestle / had undertaken with the
destroyer. He lowered over the couch, his
breath was upon our cheeks, his presence
was certain almost perceptible, within the
chamber. From his grasp l was now to
rescue youth and beauty, and to win prize
for myself to wear hereafter.
AS I had predicted, the malady was
stubborn and tenacious in its grasp, yield
ing only after the lapse of almost a month
from the night of its inception. To others,
it was doubtful; to myself never. 1 knew
my resources and the whole extent of the
danger, deeply alarming as it was, and
from the first / was enabled TO name al
most the hour when the hold of the disease
would be broken.
The first hours OF her convalescence j
claimed for myself, excluding even her
father from the room. Sitting by her bed
aida II enunta1 tha frat daap raot,lar